CHEMIST'S POISON-BOOK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19394, 31 July 1926, Page 12

CHEMIST'S POISON-BOOK.

A SALE NOT RECORDED. "ACT BEHIND THE TIMES." " The Aci is about 30.years behind the times and should be brought up-to-date," said Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday when Donald M. Davidson, chemist (Mr. Leahy), was charged with failing to enter the sale of a poison in his poison-book. A .constable said that as a result of complaints of the poisoning of animals at Castor Bay, he called at defendant's shop and asked whether he had sold any poison. After glancing through bis book defendant said, he had not. After further inquiries, witness called again, and defendant then admitted he had sold some poison.. The sale was entered in the book and defendant bad overlooked it.. Defendant Slso, volunteered the information that he had sold some poison to a retired chemist without entering it in the book. Mr. Leahy said defendant knew the purchaser of the poison was a retired chemist. It was customary for chemists when they ran out to borrow poison from one another without making an entry in the book. Defendant thought it was unnecessary to make an entry when the purchaser was a registered chemist. The magistrate said it was only a friendly action, but defendant should have made the entry. The Act was falling into disuse, and chemists felt it was unjust in its operation. The offence was merely ; technical. Defendant would be convicted and ordered to pay costs. |